Liquid level window for coffeemakers

ABSTRACT

PROPER SEALING RELATIONSHIP BY THE COFFEMAKER HANDLE AND ITS ASSOCIATED MOUNTING MEANS.   THE INVENTION PROVIDES A HANDLE AND LIQUID LEVEL WINDOW ASSEMBLY FOR A COFFEEMAKER CHARACTERIZED BY A TRANSPARENT OR TRANSCULENT MOLDED PLASTIC WINDOW OVERLAPPING AN ELONGATED APERTURE IN THE COFFEEMAKER AND SECURED IN

Feb. 13, 1973 J. R. CHIVERS 3,716,169

LIQUID LEVEL WINDOW FOR COFFEEMAKERS Filed May 11, 1971 WITNESSES'NVENTOR i James h'vers ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,716,169 LIQUIDLEVEL WINDOW FOR COFFEEMAKERS James R. Chivers, Mansfield, Ohio,assiguor to Scovill Manufacturing Company, Waterbury, Conn. Filed May11, 1971, Ser. No. 142,301 Int. Cl. B6711 5/38 US. Cl. 222157 2 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention provides a handle and liquidlevel window assembly for a coifeemaker characterized by a transparentor translucent molded plastic window overlapping an elongated aperturein the coifeemaker and secured in proper sealing relationship by thecofieemaker handle and its associated mounting means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Description of the prior art It is wellknown in the coifeemaker art to provide a clear tube, as part of ahandle assembly, which extends into the interior of the pot and is influid communication therewith, to visually indicate the level of theWater or coffee within the pot. Such tubes generally, over the life ofthe pot, become soiled and discolored by the water and coffee andbecause they are generally ditficult, if not impossible to clean, becomeuseless for the purpose intended. (For example, see U.S. Pat.3,049,922.)

Also, it is well known in the art to provide one or a plurality ofapertures in the wall of the coifeemaker covered by a clear glass orplastic window which permits visual indication of the liquid leveltherein and provides an interior surface generally flush with theinterior surface of the coifeemaker so that it can be easily washed.However, windows of this latter type generally required an additionalassembly step in the manufacture of such coffeemakers during which theassembly had to be carefully handled to insure a good seal between thewindow and the container. (See for example U.S. Pat. 3,217,923.) In thehighly competitive field of cofieemakers, such added handling produced aburdensome expense. The net result was that neither solution wasentirely satisfactory and although liquid level indicators on acoifeemaker were a recognized convenience, neither solution wasgenerally well accepted.

The present invention provides a liquid level indicator more closelyassociated with the latter mentioned type in that it comprises atransparent or translucent Window overlying an elongated aperture in thecontainer wall. Thus, it is easy to clean as its interior surface is asaccessible as the interior surface of the coifeemaker. However, thewindow is associated with and properly positioned by the coifeemakerhandle such that it is securely and properly assembled onto thecoftemaker by the same means through which the handle is mounted, andwhich is a necessary assembly step irrespective of whether the window ispresent or not.

The window has a shoulder portion which engages, in overlappingrelationship, the exterior surface of the container about the peripheryof the elongated aperture in an intimate facing engagement and providesa surface for supporting a sealant such as a compressible O-ring or ahydrophobic plastic sealant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A transparent or translucent window or sightglass, preferably molded of a plastic material, is provided which isattached to the colfemaker container and overlying an elongated aperturetherein. A molded plastic handle is also provided and is specificallyadapted to receive, in a nested relationship, opposite extremities ofthe window. The attaching force is provided by typical handle mountingmeans and a hydrostatic seal is provided between the container and thewindow by either an O-ring gasket of resilient material or a hydrophobicplastic sealant on a peripheral shoulder of the window which overlapsthe adjacent facing wall of the container. The window also has aninwardly projecting lip generally contiguous to the periphery of theaperture which in cooperation with the handle mounting means properlyindexes the window and handle for assembly on the container.

DRAWING DESCRIPTION The figure is an exploded isometric of a coifeemakerwith the handle and window assembly of the present invention and havingportions broken away for clarity.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing, atypical cotfeemaker 10 is shown generally comprising a cylindricalcontainer 12 and a molded plastic base 14 attached thereto at thebottom. The base 14, in automatic coffeemakers, generally houses aheater and thermostat (not shown) and means for controlling thetermination of the brew cycle coupled to an adjustable lever 16.Electricity is supplied through the male prongs 18 by a detachablefemale plug (also not shown).

The cylindrical container 12 is contoured in its longitudinal directionto provide a somewhat convex surface generally tapering towards the topend which is closed by a removable lid 20, for access to the interior.One side of the wall of the container 12 supports a spout 22 throughwhich the coifee or contents of the container is poured anddiametrically opposed is mounted a handle 24 for manipulating thecoffeemaker.

The handle 24, as is generally the case, is a molded plastic bail memberhaving an intermediate portion 26 for gripping and opposite end portions28 and 30 providing faces 32 and 34 contoured for intimate engagement ofthe wall of the container when in proper assembled position. Theassembly of the handle 24 to the container 12 is indexed by a short stud36, welded to the container wall and having a blind tapped aperture 37,received in a mating aperture 38 in end 30 of the handle. A headed screw40 is inserted through aperture 38 and screwed into stud 36 to securethe lower end of the handle onto the container.

The upper end 28 of the handle is secured by another headed screw 42inserted through a sealing washer 44 and aperture 45 in the containerfrom the internal side of the container and received in a threadedmating aperture 46 in the upper end of the handle.

An aperture 48 is provided in the container which is elongated in theaxial direction and terminates at each end generally adjacent theposition the respective ends 28 and 30 of the handle would assume whenproperly assembled.

A transparent or translucent window 50, preferably molded from plasticsuch as a polycarbonate, is provided to cover the aperture 48 andoverlap the container 12. More specifically, the window 50 is defined bya rectangular part which is slightly concave in both dimensions togenerally conform to the rounded contour of the container and having asubstantially smooth outer face 52 with space apart transverse notches54 which provide, in the final product, indicia as to the amount ofliquid in the container.

The inner face 56 of the Window 50 has a sharp semicircular (as viewedin transverse cross-sectionlnotch 58 extending substantially the lengthof the window and bounded by a peripheral lip 60 extending beyond thegeneral plane of the rear surface of the window having an outerdimension which is generally contiguous with the dimension of theaperture 48 so the lip 60 can be received within the aperture inindexing arrangement. Further outwardly from the lip, the surface 56defines a peripheral groove 62 for receiving a resilient O-ring orgasket 64. The remainder of the inner surface 56 provides a generallyfiat shoulder area 66 facing the container.

Tab members 68 and 70 extend respectively from the top and bottomextremities of the rectangular window, and in the assembled positionsare adjacent the top and bottom end portions 28 and 30 of the handlewhose faces 32 and 34 further define notches 72 and 74 for receiving thetabs 68 and 70 in a nested interlocking relationship.

Thus, it is seen that the window 50 is assembled and secured byinitially inserting the O-ring 64 in the groove 62 with the window thenproperly positioned over the aperture 48 as indexed by lip 60 receivedwithin the aperture 48. The handle 24 is next positioned over the windowwith stud 36 received in aperture 38 while the two tabs 68 and 70 of thewindow are received in notches 72 and 74. Screws 40 and 42 are theninserted in their respective apertures and tightened, drawing the handletowards the container and, in turn, compressing the resilient O-ring toeffect a hydrostatic seal between the window and the container about theaperture, and, at the same time, securing the handle to the container.

It is evident that once the window with the O-ring mounted thereon hasbeen properly positioned over the elongated aperture, easilyaccomplished by the indexing lip, further assembly of the handle isidentical to prior assembly of the handle alone; however, this nowfurther effects the seal and secures the window.

From what has been described it is further apparent apparent that thehandle and window could be unitarily molded as a single article,retaining its general overall appearance, but being joined at what arecommon surfaces when molded as two separate articles. However, theembodiment shown is preferred in that it allows relative initialmovement between the handle and window so that the handle can be indexedby the mounting means and the window indexed by the elongated aperture,generally permitting greater tolerances in the dimensions of thecomponent parts.

What is claimed is:

1. A handle and liquid level Window assembly in combination with acoffeemaker comprising a generally cylindrical container having asidewall defining an elongated aperture, said assembly comprising:

handle means for said coifeemaker defining a bail member with each endof said member providing a surface facing said container and defining anotch portion adjacent the surface;

window means overlying said aperture and having a peripheral shoulderoverlapping the sidewall adjacent said aperture, tab members at each endof the window, the tab members being received respectively into thenotch portions in a nested relationship to properly index the windowwith respect to said handle, the window means further defining meansextending into said aperture and cooperating with said aperture toproperly index said window in said overlying position;

means disposed between said shoulder of said window and said sidewall toprovide a hydrostatic seal therebetween; and

means for attaching each end of said bail member to said container, saidattaching means also perfecting said hydrostatic seal.

2. A Coffeemaker comprising a generally cylindrical container, a spoutextending from the wall of the container and handle means attached tothe wall generally diametrically opposed to said spout wherein theimprovement comprises:

said wall supporting said handle defining a longitudinal aperture;

the handle being formed with a pair of notch portions disposed in therespective ends of the said handle and facing said container;

window means generally overlying said aperture and having a peripheralshoulder in facing relationship to the exterior surface of the walldefining said aperture;

a pair of tab members on said window, each tab member extending fromopposed extremities of said windown generally adjacent said notchportions whereby said tab members are received in said notch portions ina nested relationship to properly index the window with respect to saidhandle, means extending into said aperture and cooperating with saidaperture to properly index said window overlying said aperture;

means disposed between said shoulder and said surface to provide ahydrostatic seal therebetween; and

means for securing said handle to said container, said securing meansfurther perfecting said seal between said window and said surface.

References Cited F. I. BARTUSKA, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

